Torenia plant named ‘Dantopuremon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘Dantopuremon’ characterized by having shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup shaped flowers in shades of pale violet and white; vigorous, bush, cascading, rounded and compact growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom season-long in moderate climate; suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of 15 to 25° C.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Dantopuremon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Torenia plant, of the Scrophulariaceae family, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dantopuremon’.

The new cultivar was originated from a cross made in a controlled breeding program by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in March of 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘Rose Moon’ (unpatented). The male parent is the Torenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1-1372’ (unpatented). The new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ was discovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Torenia cultivar by soft tip cuttings was first performed in May of 2001 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Dantopuremon’ which in combination distinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of delicate, funnel         form, cup shaped flowers in shades of pale violet and white;     -   2. Vigorous, bush, cascading, rounded and compact growth habit;     -   3. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging         baskets;     -   4. Early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate         climate;     -   5. Suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under         partial shade; and     -   6. Good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of         15° C. to 25° C.

Plants of the new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ differ from plants of the parents, ‘Rose Moon’ (unpatented) and ‘TR-1-1372’ (unpatented), in the following characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Female Parent Male Parent New Cultivar ‘Rose Moon’ ‘TR-1-1372’ Character ‘Dantopuremon’ (unpatented) (unpatented) Flower color Pale violet and white Pink and violet Pink and white Flower size Length: 3.7 cm Length: 3.8 cm Length: 3.2 cm (cm) Width: 3.0 cm Width: 3.0 cm Width: 3.0 cm Growth habit Bush, cascading Bush, Bush, cascading cascading Flowering time 9 weeks from 10 weeks from 8 weeks from planting planting planting

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ is the parental cultivar Torenia cultivar ‘Rose Moon’, as compared in Table 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying illustrate the overall appearance of the new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of ‘Dantopuremon’.

The first photograph shows a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dantopuremon’ in a hanging planter at 3 months of age.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of the typical flowers, buds and leaves of ‘Dantopuremon’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new cultivar ‘Dantopuremon’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. For use as a pot plant, plants of ‘Dantopuremon’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and grown indoors during the winter. Irrigation and fertilization are needed on a regular basis. Plants of ‘Dantopuremon’ are usually grown in full sunlight, but partial shade is required in mid-summer. Plants of ‘Dantopuremon’ are fully grown in 3 months from planting a cutting in the summer season bloom all year-round in moderate climate.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximately 12:00 noon in May of 2005 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva Israel. The age of the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Torenia sp.         -   Commercial.—Pure Moon. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Torenia cultivar ‘Rose Moon.’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Torenia cultivar ‘TR-1-1372’ (unpatented). -   Propagation: Tissue culture (micropropagation of young in vitro     plantlet) and soft tip cuttings. -   Plant:     -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.         -   Growth habit.—Vigorous, rounded and compact.         -   Height.—15 to 24 cm.         -   Spread.—About 50 cm.         -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.         -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperature below 5° C. may             damage plants.         -   Vigor.—Plants are fully-grown in 3 months from planting a             cutting in summer. -   Stem:     -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144-A.         -   Length.—25 cm maximum length.         -   Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.         -   Pubescence.—Minimal and sporadic; stem is quadrangular, few             hairs on the edges.         -   Branching.—Between 5 and 10 main branches grow from the base             and split into hundreds of secondary branches.         -   Length of internodes.—3 to 3.5 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Overall shape.—Deltoid.         -   Apex.—Reniform.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width: About 3.3 cm. Length: About 3.8 cm.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-A. Upper             side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-A. Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS             146-B.         -   Leaf texture.—Pubescent. -   Venation:     -   -   Pattern.—Mid-rib splits to 4 to 6 secondary veins.         -   Color.—Upper side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146A. Under side:             Yellow-Green, RHS 146B. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—About 1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 146-B. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.         -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems;             commonly about 2 to 5 of flowers on a grown stem (flowering             together).         -   Flowering longetivity.—About 3 to 7 days on the plant.         -   Type.—Single.         -   Shape.—Funnel form.         -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Flower length.—About 3.7 cm.         -   Flower width.—About 3.0 cm. -   Bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5 winged.         -   Size.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 cm.         -   Color.—Yellow-green, RHS 144-A.         -   Texture.—Pubescence on winged edges. -   Floral tube:     -   -   Length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Color.—Outside: Purple, RHS 76D, and yellow-orange, RHS 14D.             Inside: Purple, RHS 76C, and yellow-orange, RHS 14A. -   Petals:     -   -   Number.—Four, fused.         -   Length.—Upper: About 2.3 cm. Sides: About 1.5 cm. Lower:             About 1.2 cm.         -   Width.—Upper: About 1.5 cm. Sides: About 1 cm. Lower: About             1.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Corolla tube cylindrical or often broadened above,             2-lipped, the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip             3-lobed.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Fused.         -   Margin.—Undulated.         -   Color.—The upper lip white, lower and side lips pale violet             with yellow blotch in middle lower lip.         -   Mature.—Upper Side: Upper lip: white, RHS N155B; lower and             side lips: violet, RHS 84B, with yellow blotch in the middle             of lower lip, RHS 7A. Under Side: Upper lip: white, RHS             N155B; sides and lower; violet, RHS 84B. Margin: Violet, RHS             84A. Throat: Yellow-orange, RHS 14A.         -   Immature.—Upper Side: Upper lip: white, RHS N155B; lower and             side lips: violet, RHS 84A, with yellow blotch in the middle             of lower lip, RHS 7A. Under Side: Upper lip: white, RHS             N155B; sides and lower: violet, RHS 84A. Margin: Violet, RHS             84B. Throat: Yellow-orange, RHS 14A. -   Sepals:     -   -   Number.—5.         -   Length.—About 1.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 0.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Two-lobed, 5 winged.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Wedge shaped.         -   Margin.—Undulated.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144-A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.         -   Length.—About 0.9 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144-A. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen.—Number: 2 pairs per flower; fused. Color: White, RHS             N155A.         -   Anther.—Length: About 0.4 cm; upper anthers shorter — about             0.3 cm. Width: About 0.05 cm. Color: White, RHS N155A. Spur:             Present.         -   Filament.—Length: About 1.4 cm; lower filaments shorter —             about 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.05 cm. Color: White, RHS N155A.         -   Pollen.—Amount: Sparse amount. Color: White, RHS N155C.             Requirements for pollination: Young flowers, vital pollen,             and receive, open stigma. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil.—Number: One per flower. Length: About 2.4 cm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Two lobes, open to opposite sides, deltoid             shape. Length: About 0.25 cm. Width: About 0.3 cm. Color:             White, RHS N155B.         -   Style.—Length: About 2 cm. Color: Color, RHS N155B.         -   Ovary.—Number: 1. Length: About 0.5 cm. Width: About 0.2 cm.             Color: Green, RHS 143-A. -   Seed/fruit: None. -   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard     preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was     observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C. 

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Dantopuremon’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 